Job Chapter 16 (Index)

001  Then Job answered and said,

002  I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

003  Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

004  I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.

005  But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

006  Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

007  But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

008  And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

009  He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

010  They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

011  God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

012  I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

013  His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

014  He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

015  I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.

016  My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

017  Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

018  O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

019  Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

020  My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

021  O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

022  When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.